THE ABANT LAKE MONSTER: The Hidden Terror Beneath Turkey’s Emerald Mirror
By Bülent Ortakci
Nestled in the dense forests of northwestern Turkey, Lake Abant has long drawn tourists and nature lovers with its serene beauty and mist-covered waters. But for locals, the lake is more than a peaceful escape—a place whispered about with unease. For centuries, stories of a creature that dwells beneath its surface have persisted. Today, we call it the Abant Lake Monster.
A Forgotten Kingdom and an Unholy Pact
The legend dates back to the 13th century, during the twilight years of the Seljuk Empire. Folklore tells of a minor kingdom that once ruled the highlands surrounding the lake. The queen, desperate to defend her people from ongoing raids and drought, is said to have sought out an infamous Anatolian sorcerer known only as Kutlu Hoca.
In return for peace and protection, she offered him her greatest treasure. According to accounts preserved through oral tradition, the sorcerer accepted—but instead of gold or jewels, the treasure turned out to be her firstborn daughter, whom she cast into the lake under a blood moon.
As the sacrifice sank into the black waters, something ancient awakened beneath the lakebed. From that day forward, the villagers believed a guardian beast slept beneath the lake— sometimes seen as a protector, as a curse.
Early Accounts and Warnings
One of the earliest written mentions of the lake’s mystery appears in a 1785 Ottoman field journal, where a provincial governor warns travelers not to camp near the water after dark. He writes of “fishermen gone missing, strange cries echoing through the forest, and waters disturbed on windless nights.”
In 1912, a Russian military cartographer traveling through Bolu for mapping purposes noted in his diary: “Locals speak of a long creature, as thick as a tree, that rises from the lake’s center under the fog. They offer bread at the shoreline to appease it.”
A now-lost photograph, dated 1936, allegedly showed an “enormous ripple” across the lake surface with no boat or object in sight. The picture, briefly exhibited in a Bolu museum, vanished under mysterious circumstances in the 1980s during renovations.
Modern Sightings and Social Media Frenzy
In the summer of 2022, a group of amateur cryptid hunters from Ankara camped at the lake to investigate the long-standing legend. Using night-vision cameras and motion-sensitive recorders, they documented unusual splashes, guttural noises, and fleeting shadows moving under the surface.
One of their videos went viral on TikTok, showing what appears to be a massive, serpentine silhouette gliding just beneath the water. Though skeptics dismissed it as a giant catfish or a camera trick, the footage sparked renewed interest in the legend.
Just months later, in April 2023, a solo traveler named Gülay D., camping by the eastern shore, reported hearing “a low hum” followed by a glowing light beneath the water. She approached the edge and felt an unnatural warmth.
She wrote on her blog: “It wasn’t fear I felt. It was like something was calling. Then a sound like thunder came from the water, and the glow was gone.”
Local Beliefs and Superstitions
Many residents of nearby villages, especially elders, avoid the lake after sundown. They say the creature—known locally as “Su Cin’i” (Water Djinn)—is angered by noise and disrespect. One retired fisherman, Mehmet K., says he lost a friend to “the beast” in 1984, during a night fishing trip.
“He stood up in the boat, screamed, and then… he was gone. No splash, no struggle. Like something pulled him down.”
Offerings such as bread, honey, or even coins are occasionally found by tourists along the lake’s southern banks—left, locals say, by those hoping for safe passage or healing.
A Living Legend or Lingering Energy?
The story of the Abant Lake Monster has endured not because of a single spectacular event, but due to its persistent presence in the collective memory of the region. Unlike creatures like Scotland’s Loch Ness Monster or America’s Champ, the Abant entity is less photographed and more feared, almost revered.
Paranormal researcher and folklorist Dr. Elif Sarı suggests that the legend could be the remnant of ancient animistic beliefs merged with Islamic djinn lore during the Seljuk and early Ottoman eras.
“In Anatolia, bodies of water have long been seen as gates or thresholds. Something was sealed beneath Abant—whether symbolic or real.”
Final Reflections
Is the Abant Lake Monster real? Eyewitnesses insist yes. Skeptics demand more proof. But one thing is certain: something in those waters continues to stir hearts, imaginations, and perhaps… ancient forces.
If you visit Lake Abant, take a deep breath, enjoy the scenery, and maybe leave a small offering at the shore. You never know what might be watching from below. Bülent Ortakci
NOTE: I accept well-written Fortean, paranormal, and cryptid-related posts for insertion. Lon
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